it was considered that the gait would have to be continued, without
break, for at least twenty-four hours.

Eph was at the wheel, at the start, and Jack standing back by the
conning tower. Mr. Farnum had gone below, for a nap, as he intended to
relieve Hal in the engine room after a few hours.

"Benson," remarked Danvers, approaching the submarine boy, "I guess your
remark of a few minutes ago exactly defines this trip."

"What remark?" asked Jack.

"You spoke of it as a lightning cruise. It is going to be one, indeed,
for these little submarine craft."

"Our boat can stand it, I think," smiled the submarine skipper.

"And so can the Rhinds boat, probably. But some of the others will find
themselves sorely put to to keep up the speed for twenty-four hours."

"And, if they don't?" queried Jack.

Danvers shrugged his shoulders.

"Then I guess they'll have to be satisfied with being left far behind,
unless they signal that they're in actual distress."

"This speed," mused Captain Jack, "must be part of the government's
plans for another test. The Navy Department must have planned to see
whether any of these boats could stand such a gait for twenty-four long